Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Patients with Allergic Rhinitis Towards Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy

Fan X, Zhang J. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2024;18:1531-1545 https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S468957

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of patients with allergic rhinitis towards allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT).
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted through a questionnaire survey at The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from October 15, 2023, to December 3, 2023.

The Structural Equation Model (SEM) Before and After Model Adjustment.
(A) Before Model Adjustment; (B) After Model Adjustment.

Results: A total of 550 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis. The median scores with interquartile ranges (IQR) for knowledge, attitude, and practice were 17 (11, 23), (possible range: 0– 34); 20 (17, 22), (possible range: 7– 35); and 30 (24, 34), (possible range: 8– 40). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that individuals engaging in physical activity 1– 3 times per week (OR = 2.895, 95% CI: [1.745, 4.804], P < 0.001), those participating in physical activity 5– 7 times per week (OR = 3.811, 95% CI: [1.502, 9.671], P = 0.005), and those with higher knowledge scores (OR = 4.485, 95% CI: [2.942, 6.837], P < 0.001) were independently associated with positive practices.

A prospective observational cohort study comparing the treatment effectiveness and safety of ciclosporin, dupilumab and methotrexate in adult and paediatric patients with atopic dermatitis: results from the UK-Irish A-STAR register

Alexander H, Malek R, Prieto-Merino D et al. Br J Dermatol. 2024 Jul 24:ljae287. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljae287. 

Abstract

Background

The main conventional systemic atopic dermatitis (AD) treatments are methotrexate (MTX) and ciclosporin (CyA). Dupilumab was the first novel systemic agent to enter routine clinical practice. There are no head-to-head randomised controlled trials or real-world studies comparing these agents directly. Network meta-analyses provide indirect comparative efficacy and safety data and have shown strong evidence for dupilumab and CyA.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare the real-world clinical effectiveness and safety of CyA, dupilumab and MTX in AD.

Methods

We compared the effectiveness and safety of these systemic agents in a prospective observational cohort study of adult and paediatric patients recruited into the UK-Irish Atopic eczema Systemic TherApy Register (A-STAR).

Multiplex Assays in Allergy Diagnosis: Allergy Explorer 2 versus ImmunoCAP ISAC E112i.

Nösslinger H, Mair E, Oostingh GJ, Ahlgrimm-Siess V, Ringauf A, Lang R. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024 May 8;14(10):976. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics14100976.

Abstract

Frequency of detection of animal and plant pan-allergens
by ISAC (blue) and ALEX2 (green) and their concordance.

ImmunoCAP ISAC E112i (ISAC) and Allergy Explorer 2 (ALEX2) detect specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) reactivity. Both multiplex assays contain molecular allergens and ALEX2 additionally includes allergen extracts and inhibitors that block the binding of IgE to cross-reacting carbohydrate determinants (CCDs). This study aimed to compare the performance of ISAC and ALEX2 by determining the IgE reactivity against allergen extracts and/or allergen components and by using qualitative, semiquantitative, and quantitative analyses of all comparable allergen components in sera from 216 participants recruited in South Tyrol/Italy.

Allergenic potency of various foods of mammalian origin in patients with α-Gal syndrome

Perusko M, Grundström J, Eldh M, et al. Allergy. 2024; 00: 1-12. doi:10.1111/all.16235

Abstract

Background

The α-Gal syndrome (AGS) is an emerging allergy to mammalian food caused by IgE-mediated reactions to the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal). Mammalian food sources contain α-Gal, but the amount differs. The objective of this study was to investigate the allergenic potency of various foods of mammalian origin among AGS patients.

Methods

Twenty-six AGS patients were included. Food extracts from innards, lean meats, processed meat products, milk, and whey were analyzed. Immunoblot, ELISA, immunofluorescence, and basophil activation test were used to determine the α-Gal content, characterize IgE binding, and assess foods' allergenicity.

Results

Immunoblot analysis of food extracts. Detection of α-Gal-bearing
proteins using the murine anti-α-Gal antibody 

The determined amount of α-Gal, IgE reactivity to food extracts, and food extract potencies to activate patients' basophils correlated well with each other. Pork and beef kidney showed the highest allergenicity. Beef liver and bacon showed allergenicity comparable to that of lean meats. Game meat seemed to have a higher allergenic potency than meats from farm-raised animals. The processed meat products liver pâté and black pudding, despite lower α-Gal content, demonstrated moderate allergenicity. Milk showed the lowest allergenicity. IgE reactivity to food extracts was highly similar for all patients and strongly dominated by the α-Gal epitope.

Conclusions

The allergenic potency of mammalian meat depends on the origin of the meat, the different cuts, and type of processing, with innards posing the greatest risk to AGS patients. Even processed mammalian meat constitutes a risk. Dairy products show the lowest risk. This study highlights the importance of analyzing even more foods to improve the management of AGS.

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Air pollution impacts from warehousing in the United States uncovered with satellite data

Kerr, G.H., Meyer, M., Goldberg, D.L. et al. Nat Commun 15, 6006 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50000-0

Abstract

 Relationships between warehouse characteristics and NO2 with truck traffic.

Regulators, environmental advocates, and community groups in the United States (U.S.) are concerned about air pollution associated with the proliferating e-commerce and warehousing industries. Nationwide datasets of warehouse locations, traffic, and satellite observations of the traffic-related pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2) provide a unique capability to evaluate the air quality and environmental equity impacts of these geographically-dispersed emission sources. Here, we show that the nearly 150,000 warehouses in the U.S. worsen local traffic-related air pollution with an average near-warehouse NO2 enhancement of nearly 20% and are disproportionately located in marginalized and minoritized communities.

Systemic and skin-limited delayed-type drug hypersensitivity reactions associate with distinct resident and recruited T cell subsets.

Shah PN, Romar GA, Manukyan A et al.  J Clin Invest. 2024 Jul 23:e178253. doi: 10.1172/JCI178253.

Abstract

Delayed-type drug hypersensitivity reactions are major causes of morbidity and mortality. The origin, phenotype and function of pathogenic T cells across the spectrum of severity requires investigation. We leveraged recent technical advancements to study skin-resident memory T cells (TRM) versus recruited T cell subsets in the pathogenesis of severe systemic forms of disease, SJS/TEN and DRESS, and skin-limited disease, morbilliform drug eruption (MDE). 

Emerging Trends in Information-Seeking Behavior for Alpha-Gal Syndrome: Infodemiology Study Using Time Series and Content Analysis

Romeiser JL, Jusko N, Williams AA. J Med Internet Res 2024;26:e49928 doi: 10.2196/49928

Abstract

Background:

Alpha-gal syndrome is an emerging allergy characterized by an immune reaction to the carbohydrate molecule alpha-gal found in red meat. This unique food allergy is likely triggered by a tick bite. Cases of the allergy are on the rise, but prevalence estimates do not currently exist. Furthermore, varying symptoms and limited awareness of the allergy among health care providers contribute to delayed diagnosis, leading individuals to seek out their own information and potentially self-diagnose.

Objective:

The study aimed to (1) describe the volume and patterns of information-seeking related to alpha-gal, (2) explore correlations between alpha-gal and lone star ticks, and (3) identify specific areas of interest that individuals are searching for in relation to alpha-gal.

Effect of antihistamine-releasing contact lenses on ocular symptoms and treatment behavior in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis: A retrospective study.

Fujio K, Sung J, Hirosawa K et al. Heliyon. 2024 Jun 22;10(13):e33385. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33385.

Highlights

• We studied allergic conjunctivitis symptoms and anti-allergic eye drop use patterns.

• We compared antihistamine-releasing and daily disposable soft contact lenses.

• Antihistamine-releasing contact lens users showed reduced ocular symptoms.

• They also showed delayed anti-allergic eye drop initiation.

• Antihistamine-releasing contact lenses can mitigate ocular allergic responses.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to compare subjective allergic conjunctivitis symptoms and anti-allergic eye drop use patterns between antihistamine-releasing contact lens users and daily disposable soft contact lens users during Japan's hay fever season.